How to Prepare for a Rainy Wedding Day

Living in Scotland we are used to seeing all four seasons in one day, whatever month of the year! But whether a drizzle or a downpour, rain is no reason to give up hope on your wedding day. Stormy weather is nobody’s ideal wedding forecast, but unfortunately, it’s the only real part of the day you can’t control. Prepping for a rainy wedding day in advance will save you a headache in the future.

Any couple having an outdoor wedding ceremony should confirm a weather backup plan in their venue contract—whether it’s an indoor room, a covered outdoor area or a last-minute tent setup. That way, if the forecast spontaneously calls for rain on your wedding day, you’ll have something to fall back on—and no reason to panic. However, if you forgot to make a plan B from the start, here’s how to pull off a fabulous affair no matter what.

Talk to Your Venue and Suppliers

You planned an outdoor wedding, but your only weather prep was crossing your fingers and praying to the rain gods—now it’s supposed to rain on your wedding day. Call your venue coordinator and find out your options. Do they have another protected space on-site where you could relocate? If you were planning an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception, can they help transform the indoor space for both the ceremony and reception? (If you go with this plan, ask them how long it’ll take to flip the room. A good team should get the job done in about an hour while you and your guests enjoy drinks and hors-d’oeuvres at another spot at the venue.)

Another option, if your budget and venue allow, is to rent a tent last minute. The site manager might even be able to refer you to a rental company they’ve worked with before. Speak to your photographer and make sure they have a plan B for indoor group shots and/or bridal portraits in the rain.

Embrace It

Get ready to roll with the punches and welcome the weather—rain on your wedding day is actually considered good luck! If the rain brings wind and chilly temperatures too, arrange for heat lamps, offer blankets and make sure there’s plenty of hot coffee, tea, cider or cocoa. Provide enough umbrellas and rain boots for your guests—or, at the very least, for your wedding party. Plan a playful rainy photo session with your wedding party holding cute umbrellas and wearing colourful rain boots. Or sneak away with your soon-to-be spouse for a romantic kiss under a shared umbrella. First, find out if any of your vendors can supply these sorts of props. For example, I bring 4/5 wedding umbrellas with me to every wedding – just in case. No luck? You can get super cheap fleece blankets or towels from Ikea and umbrellas from Amazon or eBay.

You’re Allowed to Be Upset (for a Little Bit)

Rain or shine, this is true of all weddings: No matter how beautiful your floral arrangements, elaborate your reception amenities or terrible your weather luck is, your guests will feed off your mood. If the forecast makes you flustered, upset and anxious, you’re allowed to let your frustration out (I know, it sucks), but don’t let it weigh you down for the whole celebration. Your guests can sense all your tense and negative energy, so the sooner you can get past it and be your own source of sunshine, the more fun both you and your guests will have—I promise.

Think you’re the only one whose nuptials got caught in the rain? Search for Rainy Day Wedding Photos on Pinterest—they’ll convince you everything will be okay.

Two minutes later the heavens opened – but look at that cool sky!

Remember a Wedding is a Party, not a Performance. If at the end of the day you are married to the one you love, then everything went perfectly.

There’s absolutely no doubt that social media has changed everything about weddings. From using Facebook to plan your wedding to pinning the latest wedding trend on Pinterest, you definitely know what I’m talking about, right!?

Even if you are opting for an unplugged wedding on the actual day, wedding hashtags are a great way to collect up everybody’s memories and photographs from your day in one easily searchable place on Instagram.

Crafting your wedding hashtags can be one of the most fun things to do when planning your wedding. Obviously, you would like your guests to share their photos online and use your hashtag. However, for that to happen you have to make sure your wedding hashtag is memorable.

This post is all about tips to achieve just that.

Keep it Simple

Your wedding hashtags don’t have to be complicated, the more simple it is, the better. A simple hashtag that’s functional and to the point will make it easy to remember. Here are some examples of top wedding hashtags.

#MeetTheJohnsons

#HappilyEverAllen

#PamAndJimGetHitched

#MrAndMrsCooper

#CheersToTheWilsons

Be creative with words

We’ve all seen some creative and funny hashtags as well. So, if you want to go for something more creative, here are some ideas that combine something about the couple and something funny, inside joke or a reference.

#FinallyJones

#OhHillYeah

#ForeverMiller

#ITheeWebb

#EverybodyLovesRemond

You are not alone

Hashtags can be used by multiple people at once. Be sure you’re picking something unique that won’t get lost in the middle of an active discussion.

Check it out

You should check your preferred hashtag on Instagram to see how many posts are using the hashtag and if they’re recent.

Sharing at your event

You need to share your hashtag in a fun and visible fashion. Chalkboard, posters and table cards are all good options. You can also add to invites if you’re organised enough!

3 Tips for Creating Your Own Wedding Hashtag.

(1) Use your names.

Start with the basic. You definitely could use your first and last name to make the hashtag personal to your wedding. Heck, use your nickname if you want something more unique. Remember that nickname your friends gave you two when you first started dating in college? Well, this is the perfect time to embrace it.

(2) Get punny

There are a few things at your wedding you can really have fun with, but this is the perfect opportunity to play with some words. Look for rhymes, synonyms and puns that is some way unique and personal to you two.

(3) Avoid easy misspellings

Double check your wedding if there’s any way it could be misspelt by your guests. Move words around if there are two of the same letters in different words next to each other.

BONUS TIP: #UseTitleCaseToMakeItEasyToRead.

(See what I did there?)

BONUS TIP: If you are really stuck there are loads of free wedding hashtag generators online. I like the eWedding one.

So there you have it! I hope these tips help you choose your wedding hashtag or even motivate you to start brainstorming for your unique hashtag.

Remember, you hashtag doesn’t have to be complicated at all. Take your time to think what is the most simple yet memorable and fun hashtag you can come up with and start writing them down. Be creative, move things around, and incorporate words that makes it feel personal to you two.

Key Questions to ask your Venue

Obviously, the first question is – Is your venue available on the required date?

But when you are trying to select a venue for your wedding, forgetting to ask an important question could mean you end up selecting a venue that is missing a key element or costs you more than you first thought.

Below I have listed lots of relevant questions. I suggest you try and ask as many of them as possible to cover all possibilities. Your circumstances may change and questions that seem not important now may prove to be extremely important once your big day comes around.

Is your venue easy to find for guests?

Is your venue licensed to carry out civil weddings?

Will ours be the only wedding at your venue on our wedding day?

How many people can you accommodate?

How many car parking spaces are available?

Do you allow confetti to be thrown at the venue?

Do you allow candles to be lit in the reception room?

Do you have a noise limiter fitted or can we turn the music all the way up?

Are there any bedrooms over the dance floor?

Do you allow professional firework displays at your venue?

Do you offer the option of a marquee?Are there separate rooms provided for the wedding, reception, meal, evening reception, etc?

Is there a room provided for the use of “wedding couple” for the day?

Is there a dressing room that the bride and bridesmaids can use prior to the ceremony?

When can we have access to begin setting up the room in terms of decorating it with balloons, flowers, banners, etc? (Morning of wedding, day before, etc?)

If the evening reception is being held in a room that is being used for something else earlier in the day, do you require the DJ/Band to set-up their equipment beforehand?

Is there an area that could be used as a crèche if needed?

Is there a quieter area for older guests to get away from the noise of a band/DJ?

If rooms are available for overnight accommodation, how many?

What are the costs for overnight accommodation? Is there a special rate for wedding guests?

Is breakfast included?

What is the checkout time the following day?

Do you have a room where you are able to store wedding presents until you are able to collect them and are you insured for any loss or damage to these presents?

Do you insist on doing all the catering?

Can you supply examples of suggested menus along with prices?

Do you include a cake stand and knife if required?

Do you have a preferred order of service (when and where do we cut the cake)?

What time do you offer an alcohol license until?

What time do you insist the reception finishes by?

Do you insist on supplying the wine and champagne?

If we are able to supply the wine, what do you charge for corkage?

Can we offer alcohol as favours? (some venues don’t allow miniatures which are popular favours)

Can you recommend preferred suppliers e.g. flowers, djs, photography, etc? Do you have promotional discounts with them?

I hope you can use this list to secure the venue of your dreams and that it helps inspire other questions you might want to ask.
Happy Planning!

Top Table Seating Plan

URGHHHHHH!
Everyone seems to have an opinion on this. Who you should and should not have at the top table, the correct order, etc etc.

I say…..STUFF EM!

That’s right you heard me. It is your day, so do it your way. By that, I mean whatever feels right for you, your partner and those closest to you.

In this blog I am offering up suggestions and alternatives that you may not have thought of.

Traditional UK etiquette

If you want to do it the completely traditional way then follow the diagram below

Or any combination of this that works for you and your situation e.g. stepparents, children, grooms mum and dad wanting to sit together, etc.

On the plus side, this is usually a blend of family and friends so the best of both worlds and these people are usually the ‘speech givers’ so they don’t have to shuffle too far to get the mic.

The Family Table

You could make it a family affair and just have parents, siblings and in-laws at the table. Also good if you have kids.

The Wedding Party Table

If you’d rather be surrounded by your friends for dinner, this is the best wedding top table seating plan for you. Instead of your family, you’ll reserve seats for your entire wedding party and (usually) their dates. This is great for those who want to start the party early – your Chief Bridesmaid and Best Man are bound to get the drinks flowing earlier than your mum and dad would 😉

The Sweetheart Table

I saw this recently at a wedding in Budapest and it’s popular in other countries too. If you can’t decide who you’d like to sit with or just want a little one-on-one time with your partner, go with a sweetheart table. This option accommodates two guests and two guests only, so you can have a mini date amidst all the mixing, mingling and wedding chaos. Keep in mind you’ll want to make your rounds after dessert finishes – being antisocial newlyweds is a no-no.

Go Flexible

Can’t settle on one group you want to sit with at your wedding reception? Well, good news, you can sit with all of them! Add two extra chairs to a few of the tables around your venue and spend the evening moving from place to place. You’ll want to divvy up your time evenly, so spend a courses length at each spot (i.e. starters at one table, main dish at another and dessert at a third). Remember, if you can’t squeeze every single table in, it’s not a problem, you can always talk to your other guests after dinner has wrapped.

Have a Buffet

Having a Buffet has its perks! It’s definitely the least formal of the bunch, but going for this option means that won’t have to stick to (or even make) a wedding top table seating plan. You can spend the evening playing musical chairs and moving from group to group while your munch on crudites and vol-au-vents. Bonus: it’s also the least expensive choice when it comes to catering, so you’ll be able to save a few £££s, too! And if it’s good enough for Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding….!

Each wedding is unique. The above is intended as some suggestions, but don’t feel like you’re doing it wrong if you want to deviate – it’s your day after all!

“And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more”

Christina Perri – A Thousand Years

It wasn’t quite a thousand years Christine and James waited to get married but seventeen years and two children later can feel like a really long time!

They met seventeen years ago at the gym and about seven years later James asked Christine to marry him. They started planning a wedding but six months later discovered they were pregnant with their daughter Neive. So the wedding got put on the back burner and then life got in the way.

Christine was looking at the venue The Vu on social media earlier this year when a last minute date popped up as a cancellation. As it was James’ birthday she sent it to him as a joke thinking he’d never go for it. But he did! By the time they phoned up another couple had already booked it so they thought that was that. Twelve hours later the venue called them back. The other couple had pulled out as they felt it was too short notice – did they want it? Christine and James rose to the challenge. IT WAS ON!!!

A Family Affair

In the intervening years, Christine and James also had a son, Jude and he looked super smart in his matching kilt.

Neive meanwhile looked beautiful as one of her mum’s bridesmaids.

Christine looked absolutely stunning in a fit and flare dress with a plunging back set off with a long sparkly veil and pastel roses bouquet.

I now pronounce you man and wife

It was a short but memorable service. At one point Neive got emotionally as her parents finally tied the knot and as I gave her my emergency hanky I noticed all the other bridesmaids getting a shot of it. Quite a lot of glassy eyes in the building.

Baby, it’s cold outside

Christine and James were very fortunate with the weather for a late October wedding. It was beautiful blue skies and little puffy white clouds. It was also only about three degrees and bitterly cold.

Undeterred the happy couple braved the weather for some formal photos on The Vu’s famous jetty.

It was my first time shooting at this venue and having checked it out beforehand I had such plans for pictures of Christine and James and their kids walking by the reservoir and the bridal party in the pagoda. Ahhhh such plans! The Baltic weather stopped us in our tracks, well if I’m honest the bride (what a trouper) and myself were up for it but the kids point-blank refused to stay outside any longer than absolutely necessary!

The pictures of the new Mr & Mrs on the jetty were worth the cold weather though!

Hold me – for warmth!

A Sensible Plan B

Being a premier wedding venue there was a plan B and Hannah the wedding coordinator suggested the slate wall back inside the room we had the service. Coordinators like Hannah are worth their weight in gold. She was so helpful all day 🙂

The wall was the perfect backdrop for this stunning couple.

A Sparkling Evening

After the speeches and the meal, we braved the weather again armed with some sparklers.

Baby, you’re a firework!

Then all too soon it was time for the cake cutting and first dance and time for me to take my leave. You would never have known this wedding had been organised so quickly and as my last wedding of the year, it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Welsh and to all the other wonderful couples I’ve shot this year.

When Mr JB and I lived in Edinburgh we had a flat with no garden. As the Royal Botanic Gardens were a stone’s throw from where we lived they were a beautiful respite in a bustling city, a place to walk on a Sunday morning and feed the fat squirrels, somewhere we would joke was our ‘backyard’. They are a magical place that we have very fond memories of. Hence, I was delighted when Pamela and James booked me to photograph their wedding there.

James and Pamela met in a bar in Edinburgh whilst out with their respective friends. Pamela wasn’t too keen on giving James her mobile number so the cunning devil stole it! Three years later and James proposed in Greece which Pamela said was just in time as she thought it was never going to happen. The proposal itself took two attempts as the first time Pamela thought James was trying to steal her Panini!!

Umbrella Excitement!

James is Scottish and Pamela is Italian and when I went to her room at the Inverleith Hotel to capture some of the bridal prep I had my wedding umbrellas with me, just in case. I was greeted at the door by two gorgeous, very animated Italian ladies that were clearly very excited about something! When Pamela realised I was completely confused she translated that they were very happy that I had brought wedding umbrellas as it looked overcast and they were thinking they might have to go out and buy some! As it turned out we didn’t need them – but you never know in Scotland….

Pamela looked absolutely radiant. As they had chosen the garden venue she had gone with a stunning floral crown in her hair and the overall effect once she had her dress on was off an ethereal goddess. James was a very lucky guy.

In the Garden

I left Pamela in her maids’ good hands to get to the Caledonian Hall, the wedding venue they had chosen inside the Gardens. Pamela and James picked the venue as they too love coming to the Gardens in their downtime and once they realised they could get married there nowhere else came close for consideration.

The Groom and his Best Man arrived resplendent in Stewart Tartan. As the guests arrived they were played in by Davie Christie on his violin.

The Ceremony

As half the guests were Italian the service was conducted by the registrar and one of the couples friends who is an interpreter for a living. She also interpreted the two readings the couples had chosen and all the speeches. I think it all sounded more romantic in Italian.

James also spoke some of his vows and his speech in Italian which was a lovely touch.

Bellissimo

The gardens looked so beautiful in all their autumnal splendour. The new Mr and Mrs Stewart were so photogenic. I could have spent hours walking them around the garden taking pictures. In fact, I nearly broke my own rules which are to get the couple back to their party and guests as soon as possible.

Their favourite parts of the Gardens included the Rock Garden and the Chinese Garden. I made sure we got lots of great pictures in those places.

Confetti? Who needs it!

Due to strict conservation rules, the guests weren’t allowed to throw confetti in the gardens. But who needs confetti when you have leaves!

Alice in Wonderland

The couple had chosen Alice in Wonderland characters for their seating plan and with glass candelabras, lots of flowers and a naked wedding cake the Caledonian Hall looked absolutely magical.

The Maid of Honour kicked off the speeches. I can honestly say was the most beautiful speech I’ve heard all year. The Italian translation sounded even more poetic.

After the speeches, I bade them farewell before they tucked into the wedding breakfast and then started dancing the evening away. At the end of the night, they were serving the guests pizza. I just hope nobody tried to steal the Bride’s slice!

Whether you’re going traditional, it’s a second marriage or you want to include your children, this month’s wedding blog looks at the perfect wedding invitation wording.

Whether you’re going classical or creative with your invites, the right wording on them will depend on lots of things: if you’re naming parents on the invitation, if you’ve been married before or if it’s an evening or full-day invitation. There are some basic guidelines to follow that mean your guests will get all the information they need and you’ll have gorgeous invites that represent you and your day.

Basic Information To Include In Any Wedding

Here’s what to include in your wedding invitations:

Who’s hosting the wedding

The request to come to the wedding

The names of the couple

The location of the wedding

The date and time

Reception information

Dress code (if there is one)

RSVP details

Traditional Church Wedding Invitation Wording

A traditional wedding invitation would typically come from the parents of the bride, as tradition dictates that they host the day and foot the bill. As the bride’s parents would be hosting, the RSVPs would go back to them.

The text for a traditional wedding invitation to a church wedding ceremony, followed by the reception should read as follows:

Mr & Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane
to
Mr Edward Cullen

at St Andrew’s Church, Town, Townshire
on Saturday 15th September 2019
at 1:30pm

and afterwards at
The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire

R.S.V.P by 30th June to
Mr & Mrs John Smith
12 Street Road
Town
AB1 2CD

Traditional Civil Ceremony Wedding Invitation Wording

You may have chosen to eschew the religious wedding ceremony, but still go down the traditional path of having the bride’s parents host the wedding.

You only need to list one venue on the invitation as the ceremony and reception will be in one place, but it’s best to include ‘followed by a reception’ so the guest knows they’ll be welcome at the ceremony as well as the celebrations after!

Mr & Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane
to
Mr Edward Cullen

at The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire
on Saturday 15th September 2019
at 1:30pm
followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to
Mr & Mrs John Smith
12 Street Road
Town
AB1 2CD

Wedding Invitation Wording with the Couple as Hosts

If your parents haven’t chipped in for the wedding, or you just feel like you’d like the invitations to come directly from you, then you don’t need to include their names on your wedding invitations. You can simply put yourself down as hosts – just tweak the text accordingly following the above examples to reflect whether you’re having a church or civil ceremony.

Miss Bella Bride and Mr Gary Groom
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at their marriage
at The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire

on Saturday 15th September 2019
at 1:30pm
followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to
Miss B. Bride and Mr G. Groom
12 The Street
Town
BA1 2DC

Wedding Invitation Wording with Divorced and Remarried Parents

It can be tricky to know how to word your wedding invitations if your parents are divorced or have remarried. If they are divorced but neither of them has remarried (or just the father has), you would use both full names, like the example below:

Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Smith
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane
to
Mr Edward Cullen
at The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire

on Saturday 15th September 2019
at 1:30pm
followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to
Mrs Beth Smith
12 Street Road
Town
AB1 2CD

If your parents have divorced and both remarried but are still hosting the wedding together, you would name them separately and use your mother’s new married name, like so:

Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Howard
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane
to
Mr Edward Cullen
at The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire

on Saturday 15th September 2019
at 1:30pm
followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to
Mrs Beth Howard
12 Street Road
Town
AB1 2CD

Wedding Invitation Wording With Step-Parents

If your parents split up a long time ago and they have since remarried or met a new partner and your step-parent is a part of hosting the wedding instead of one of your biological parents, there are a couple of ways around this in your wedding invitation wording.

You would use their separate names if they’re not married but if they are your wording should look something like this (the use of his and her is interchangeable depending on whether it’s your father or mother hosting.)

Mr & Mrs Paul Cooper
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at the marriage of her daughter
Beth Bride
to
Mr Edward Groom
at The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire

Wedding Invitation Wording with a Widowed Parent

Addressing a wedding invitation from a widowed parent can be sensitive. It is traditional to just use the name of the parent who is requesting the company of the guest if they are hosting alone or haven’t remarried.

If they’ve remarried and you’re happy to have both names on your invitations, you’re best to follow the format above. Or if it is from the father and he has not remarried, you’d just use his name. Finally, if it’s the mother that is the surviving parent, and she has not remarried, you’d use her married title like in the example below:

Mrs Beth Smith
requests the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at the marriage of her daughter
Bella
to
Mr Edward Groom
at The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire

on Saturday 15th September 2017
at 1:30pm
followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to
Mrs Beth Smith
12 Street Road
Town
AB1 2CD

Wedding Invitation Wording with Both Families Included

Perhaps both sets of parents have helped contribute towards the wedding, or you would just like to reference both sets of families on your wedding invitations. This is an increasingly popular way to word your wedding invitations, and you can use the names of both sets of parents.

Mr and Mrs John Smith
&
Mr and Mrs James Jones
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at the marriage of their children
Jennifer Ann
to
Axel Rose
at The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire

on Saturday 15th September 2019
at 1:30pm
followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to
Mr & Mrs John Smith
12 Street Road
Town
AB1 2CD

If you feel like having both sets of parents’ names on there is a bit clunky, you can word it slightly more informally. ‘Together with their parents’ works well if both sets of parents are still together, but if one party is widowed or there are any remarriages involved, ‘Together with their families’ is a nice option that acknowledges everyone.

Together with their families
Miss Jennifer Cooper
&
Mr Jonathan Beckett
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at their marriage

Wedding Invitation Wording for a Same-Sex Marriage

The guidelines are almost exactly the same for same-sex couples, the only difference is which name goes first. Traditionally the name of the bride comes at the top as her parents pay for the wedding, but if there are two brides or two grooms then this rule doesn’t directly apply. If one set of parents are paying for the wedding then etiquette dictates their names will go first, but otherwise, it is your choice how you list your names. Alphabetically might solve any potential issues!

Together with their parents
Mr Jack Andrews
&
Mr Edward Jones
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at their marriage

Wedding Invitation Wording for a Second Marriage

For those planning a second marriage, it’s likely that you’ll be at a different stage in your life and might have quite a different style of wedding in mind.

If your parents aren’t being included on the invitations and you still have your surname from your previous marriage, you might choose to leave off your title (or refer to yourself as ‘Ms’). If the bride doesn’t have a title on the invitation, the groom shouldn’t either:

Betsey May Bride
&
Bert Ernie Groom
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at their marriage

Invitation Wording with Children as Hosts

This is a super sweet idea if you and your partner have children together already, or have children from previous relationships that you want to include on your wedding invitations. Here’s how to word your invitation if the children are from your relationship:

Bella and Jacob Jones
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at their marriage of their parents
Miss Joanne Smith
to
Mr Edward Jones

Wedding Invitation Wording for an Evening Invite Only

Sometimes there just isn’t enough room on the guest list to invite everyone to the day. If you need to invite someone to the evening reception only, make sure you word it clearly so your guests aren’t confused. Here’s a traditionally worded wedding evening invitation to inspire you.

Mr & Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of
Guest’s Name
at a reception to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Bella
to
Mr Edward Cullen

at The Queen’s Head Hotel, Town, Townshire

on Saturday 15th September 2019
at 7:30pm

R.S.V.P by 30th June to
Mr & Mrs John Smith
12 Street Road
Town
AB1 2CD

Wedding Invitation Wording When Children Aren’t Invited

For couples who want an adult-only celebration, it is worth specifying this on your invitations as some people may assume their children are invited, even if they haven’t been named. You can politely point out your choice on your invitation like so:

Unfortunately, children are not invited – we hope you understand
We have chosen to have a child-free wedding. We hope you are still able to celebrate with us
Our wedding will be a child-free occasion – we hope you can still come and enjoy a night off

Each wedding is unique. The above is intended as a loose guide, but don’t feel like you’re doing it wrong if you want to deviate – it’s your day after all!

Happy Planning!

P.S. If you found this helpful, sign up for my monthly newsletter for more planning advice delivered straight to your inbox and absolutley no spam!

“Where does the family start? It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl – no superior alternative has yet been found.” – Winston Churchill

Swipe right for love

About three and a half years ago David, an Army recruitment officer, was posted to a job in England. Whilst there he used a well-known dating app and he and Carly had a memorable first date in a local pub. Not long after he was posted somewhere else for a month but they agreed to meet up again when he returned and the rest, as they say, is history!

By the time David got posted back to Scotland, he and Carly were inseparable so they set up house together. Then a few days before Christmas they were getting ready to go out and David surprised Carly by going down on one knee and proposing.

The greatest gift

To complete this perfect love story they are expecting their first baby next year. I’m not sure that they could’ve given each other a greater wedding gift.

A trip to the museum

Inside the Assembly Room was a complete hidden gem. Carly and David admitted they only found out about it after they attended another wedding there.

Stunning Venue

Hip to be a Groom

Being a military man David was very good at taking orders. So every time I asked him and his best men to take a swig from their hipflasks for a photo he obliged 😉

After a week of gales and rain, storm Ali had abated and the sun was shining. So much so that it was hard to get all the guests inside before the bride arrived. All wanting that last little bit of vitamin D!

Eventually, the venue staff and the best men got them all seated and the piper, the registrar and I waited for the bride to arrive with her super proud dad.

Carly looked beautiful, she was absolutely glowing and couldn’t stop smiling as she headed down the aisle to her Dave.

Husband and Wife

Carly and David’s vows rang out loud and clear and then, just like that, they were husband and wife.

Best of all for me I then had a captive group before the coach picked up all the wedding party and took them to the reception venue. Greatest scenario EVER for a wedding photographer as all too often getting group shots of the whole party is like herding cats once they discover the bar!

Travelling in style

Whilst the rest of the guests travelled to the reception in a luxury coach the bride and groom had this beautiful machine from Enchanted Limousines.

Inappropriate Photographer Alert!

People that know me well know that I can be a tad inappropriate at times. But never at a clients wedding. I try my utmost to be as professional as possible. This time it wasn’t even my fault (honest guv). At the AlonA Hotel in Motherwell Carly and David had hired the LED lights of their initials. All was going well with the formal photos until I innocently asked someone to put their hands on the D (for David!!) and people started sniggering…Once I realised my faux pas everything I said sounded unintentionally smutty!

Shocking speeches

Soon it was time for the meal and speeches and it was David’s best men that stole the show. His childhood friend went first and shared a story about a parachuting hamster that nobody could quite believe.

Judging by the bride’s face she’d never heard this story either!!

The other best man hinted to even more scandalous stories but as the audience contained kids and grandparents he couldn’t share any of them. He did, however, angle for some of Carly’s mum’s legendary lasagne!

Time to get the party started

As always, once the cake was cut and the first dance danced it was time for me to leave the new Mr & Mrs Hamilton to party the night away with their fantastic family and friends.

Congratulations to the most gorgeous pair and I look forward to shooting baby Hamilton when he or she arrives.

Love is like photography. First, you have to remember to shoot by the rules. Then you have to forget the rules and shoot from your heart.

Tina and Joanne are both keen photographers (more on that later) so no pressure for me to capture their wedding moments then!

They met online through their love of photography and set up their first date at an abandoned building (Tina loves to photograph cool abandoned and forgotten buildings, theme parks, towns, etc). Joanne got cold feet on the way to the date and had it not been for her cousin convincing her to attend this relationship might never have developed.

Joanne is an effervescent pocket rocket of a girl who covers her nerves by talking animatedly. Tina is willowy and reserved, happy to let Joanne steal the show. They are quite simply the perfect match for each other. Joanne said she knew from that first date that she would marry Tina. Fast forward a few years and Joanne had planned a romantic proposal under the Forth Railway Bridge. But…she was too excited to wait and proposed one morning in bed!

The Perfect Location

My brides had picked The Old Manor Hotel in Lundin Links, Leven. They have beautiful rooms for an intimate wedding like theirs or medium or large scale weddings.

An Intimate Ceremony

Tina walked down the aisle first with her mum. I love her reaction as she sees Joanne for the first time.

First look

Joanne’s Dad walked her down the aisle. Joanne’s dress was the very first one she tried on and she accessorised it with her dearly departed gran’s pearl necklace and super cool baby pink Doc Martins.

The ceremony was intimate and tailored perfectly to the couple and soon they were Mrs and Mrs.

The weather gods were smiling

Despite rain that week and on the morning of the big day it was dry after the ceremony so we were able to go outside and get some gorgeous pictures of my beautiful brides.

The Icing on the Cake

Was literally the icing on the wedding cake. It was photography themed. I loved it.

It included an edible film roll with pictures of Tina and Joanne.

Then it was time for Tina and Joanne to enjoy their first meal with their family and wife and wife.

As I drove away from the hotel I was reminded of the song lyrics that were dotted around Tina and Joanne’s house when I visited them for their consultation.

“Freeze, frame, pause, rewind, stop.” Pink

It’s a good reminder to be in the moment and enjoy the now. Something I hope Tina and Joanne do as they start their married life together.

If you’re struggling to put together your schedule and don’t know how long to factor in for each element of your day then don’t worry, you are not alone!

Wedding day timings are possibly one of the hardest things to gauge, particularly if your wedding is the first large-scale event you’ve ever organised! Whilst there’s no one-size-fits-all template, I wanted to give you a rough guide of how long to allow for each part of your Big Day with some top tips sprinkled throughout!

So let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

Bridal Prep

What time you start your bridal prep and the amount of time you allow for this will ultimately depend on several factors including:

The size of your bridal party.

The complexity of your hair and makeup.

Whether you are having an individual hair and make-up artist or a team

How much you prepare in advance.

The time of your ceremony.

The distance between where you are getting ready and your ceremony location.

Whether you plan on having any photos with your bridal party prior to your ceremony.

The best starting point when it comes to working out how much time to allow is to ask the expert! If you are having your hair and makeup done professionally then ask your hair and make-up artist how long they think they will take. I asked my favourite expert Carla Haley and she said as a general rule, allow a couple of hours for bridal hair and make-up and an additional 45 to 75 minutes for each member of your wedding party).

Work back from the start of your ceremony and factor in travel, putting on your dress (this takes longer than you think so give yourself at least 30 mins!) and timings from your hair and make-up artist. This will give you a rough idea of your starting time!

Top Tips!

Remember to factor breakfast and lunch (and of course a glass of bubbles!) into your bridal prep!

If your bridal party are doing their own hair and make-up then ask them how long they think it will take them to get ready and then double it! Overexcited bridesmaids will always take longer to get ready than they think!

Leave a margin of error of around 1 hour… This will ensure that you are ready in plenty of time and can enjoy the morning.

The Ceremony

When it comes to your ceremony and timings there are 2 elements to consider:

Firstly, what time should everyone arrive at the ceremony?

As a general guide I usually advise the following:

Groom, Best Man / Men and Ushers – 45 minutes before the ceremony.

Guests – 30 minutes before the ceremony.

Groom’s parents – 15 minutes before the ceremony.

Mother of the Bride and Bridesmaids – 10 minutes before the ceremony.

Bride and Father of the Bride – 5 minutes before the ceremony.

Secondly, how long should you allow for your ceremony?

This will ultimately depend on whether you are having a Religious Ceremony, a Non-Religious Ceremony, or a Civil Wedding / Partnership…

Non-religious Ceremony – 20 to 45 minutes.

Civil Wedding / Partnership – 30 to 45 minutes.

Religious Ceremony – 60 to 90 minutes.

Top Tip!

You may want to use your ceremony location for some group pictures and the confetti shot. If you do then remember to factor this into your timings.

Drinks Reception

Allow 1 ½ to 2 hours for your drinks reception as this will give your photographer plenty of time for your group and personal portrait shots. It will also give you enough time to mingle with your guests and enjoy your canapés and bubbles.

Top Tip!

If you want a longer drinks reception then it is essential to your keep your guests entertained and provide plenty of drinks and canapés!

Group & Portrait Photos

The number of group photos you want will ultimately determine how long your photographer will need. However, as a general rule of thumb allow 5 minutes per group photo and at least 30 minutes for your personal portrait shots.

Top Tips!

Make sure everything runs like clockwork by asking your photographer to scope out some potential backgrounds in advance. If they are like me they will do this anyway 😉

At your wedding photographer consultation ensure they make a list of different photos and combinations of your family and wedding party that you don’t want them to miss. Then arrange for the relevant people to gather at a designated spot right after your ceremony so that nobody goes AWOL (to the bar) when they’re needed for group shots!

Give somebody trustworthy (and someone who knows the difference between your dad and your distant uncle) the job of rounding everyone up for group photos and chasing any stragglers! This person should be the photographers best friend by the end of the group photos!

Seating your Guests

Allow up to 30 minutes for guests to move from the drinks reception to the location of your Wedding Breakfast and for them to then find their seats.

If you are planning on having a receiving line then allow an additional 40 minutes on top of this.

Top Tip!

Designate at least a couple of your Bridesmaids or Ushers to direct guests, assist with the receiving line and speed up any loitering guests!

This is a perfect opportunity for you and your new husband/wife to steal some time together. Whether that’s using the time for a little one-on-one time or indeed to capture those couple’s shots.

Speeches

Allow no more than 30 to 40 minutes for your speeches with each speaker allocated up to 10 minutes. It is important to try and stick to these timings as speeches that take any longer normally result in fidgety guests and your evening may lose momentum!

Top Tips!

If you ask your speakers how long they think they’ll take always double it! From experience, I have never known a speech to run to time!

Wedding Meal

The best starting point when it comes to working out how much time to allocate for your Wedding Breakfast is to once again ask the expert!

Your caterers will be able to give you a guide on how long they think their service will take depending on the number of guests, choice of food, number of courses, number of catering staff and type of venue.

As a general guide allow up to 2 hours for a 3-course meal.

Evening Reception

Once the evening reception has begun timings can often go out the window!

However, there are some key elements that need to be factored into your schedule as otherwise they can easily be forgotten in the excitement of the evening’s festivities!

I, therefore, suggest you factor in the first dance, cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet no later than 45 minutes after the end of their wedding breakfast. This will also ensure that the photographer manages to capture everything before they leave.

Top Tip!

If you have invited evening guests ask them to turn up at least 30 minutes after your wedding breakfast. If for any reason your wedding breakfast overruns the last thing you want is to have evening guests turning up whilst people are still eating!

Each wedding is unique and timings will vary drastically between different celebrations. Use the above as a loose guide, but don’t feel like you’re doing it wrong if you want to deviate – it’s your day after all! Also, this covers lot’s of the traditional elements of a wedding and you may want to skip parts of these to suit you as a couple!